These Champions are Unrivaled

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After a riveting 5-game, nail-biting WNBA finals series, Napheesa Collier and Brianna Stewart could’ve chosen to enjoy a quiet offseason. Instead, they decided to go full-steam ahead with creating a professional women’s basketball league of their own. Unrivaled is set to revolutionize basketball with its innovative 3x3 format and star-studded backing. The inaugural season will feature six teams, each with six players, competing in a 3x3 format. Adding to the intensity, the league will also host a special 1x1 tournament to crown the "Queen of the Court" - a title that's sure to become one of the most coveted in women's basketball.

Their player reveal strategy created significant buzz and engagement in the basketball community. The league used the "teaser and reveal" system where they shared intriguing facts about upcoming players, encouraging fans to guess their identities. Once a player is revealed, they become part of the anticipation-building process for the next announcement, creating a chain of engagement that keeps fans consistently invested.

Unrivaled has taken a collaborative approach to form each team by involving coaches in the talent selection process. This ensures that each team is built with a strategic vision, considering not just individual talent but also team chemistry and playing style compatibility. The league has also established distinct social media presences for each team, allowing them to build unique brand identities and foster dedicated fan bases even before the first game.

With an incredible lineup of announcers and $35 million in investment backing, Unrivaled has attracted some of the biggest names in women's sports. Tennis phenom Coco Gauff, legendary coach Dawn Staley, and rising basketball star Juju Watkins have all put their support behind this revolutionary league. The league has also made history by bringing on college athletes as ambassadors with equity stakes - a first-of-its-kind move. Basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Flau'jae Johnson aren't just faces of the league; they're actual stakeholders in its success. The league has also secured deals with major companies including:

• Sports brands: Wilson, Under Armour (Official Uniform and Training Apparel Partner), Wilson

• Financial giants: State Farm, Ally Financial, Morgan Stanley

• Consumer brands: Miller Lite, VistaPrint, Sephora (Official Beauty Partner), IcyHot (Official Recovery Partner), Sprite (Presenting Sponsor of 1-on-1 Tournament), and BODYARMOR Sports Drink (Official Sports Drink), Samsung Galaxy (Presenting Partner), Wayfair

• Media: Mediapro North America, HBO Max, TNT Sports

and probably 5 more since the time of publishing this.

Since we’re on the topic of money, let’s discuss the elephant in the room: player salaries. The average salary of $242,000 for Unrivaled players represents a significant leap forward compared to the WNBA, where the average salary was approximately $102,751 for the 2024 season. Beyond salary, Unrivaled is raising the bar for player accommodations and support:

• First-class travel arrangements for all players. Before the charter flights deal, the WNBA had a mixed approach where only veterans with 5+ years of service were guaranteed premium economy seats.

• High-end training facilities and recovery resources.

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage and wellness programs for the duration of their contract.

• Marketing and brand development support to help players build their personal brands (media day was wild).

• Local housing for the duration of their stay.

• Childcare services and nursing rooms are provided before, during, and after the games.

It’s almost as if they believe women are people, too, even when they’re not on the court. However, they’re not the only US-based women’s professional league in town. How do they compare to Athletes Unlimited and the WNBA?

Unrivaled vs. Athletes Unlimited

While both leagues represent innovative approaches to women's basketball, Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited (AU) have distinct differences in their structure and operation:

• Format: Unrivaled focuses on 3x3 basketball with fixed teams, while AU uses a unique scoring system where players earn individual points and teams change weekly

• Season Structure: Unrivaled maintains consistent team rosters throughout the season, whereas AU reshuffles teams each week based on player rankings

• Compensation Model: Unrivaled offers a higher base salary ($242,000) compared to AU's bonus-based system where earnings are tied to individual and team performance.

• Team Structure: Unrivaled has six fixed teams with six players each, while AU rotates players through different teams throughout their shorter season

• Additional Competition: Unrivaled includes a unique 1x1 tournament format, which isn't present in the AU model

Both leagues are innovating in women's basketball, but Unrivaled's approach focuses more on traditional team identity, whereas AU emphasizes individual player performance and weekly competition dynamics.

Unrivaled vs. WNBA

While many WNBA players traditionally supplement their income by playing overseas during the off-season, Unrivaled's year-round domestic opportunities present several advantages:

• Quality of Life: Players can maintain a stable home base in the U.S., avoiding the challenges of relocating internationally for months at a time

• Family Considerations: Staying domestic allows players to remain close to family throughout the year

• Brand Building: Maintaining a continuous presence in the U.S. market can enhance players' personal brand development and sponsorship opportunities

This model aims to reduce the financial pressure that often drives players to seek international team placements, potentially improving their overall well-being and career longevity. Napheesa and others in Unrivaled have played overseas, so it isn’t inherently a bad option for WNBA players in the offseason. However, after witnessing the hardship Brittney Griner faced, many women may not be eager to leave the States.

For women who started their careers overseas, hearing from Gabby Williams about why she continues to play overseas even though it delays her return to the WNBA, makes a compelling case for those who aren’t big names garnering million-dollar deals from sports brands to consider. Either way, the fact remains that the WNBA in its current form is inadequate for year-round sustainability for many players.

The Last Word 🥂

If you missed the first games on Friday and Saturday, you can catch the replays on HBO MAX. You can find the schedule for the rest of the season here. If you twisted my arm and made me rank the teams by favorites, mine would be:

1. Mist

2. Vinyl

3. Rose and Lunar Owls (tied)

4. Laces

5. Phantom (Natasha Cloud is still that girl though)

Penned,

Angela 🤙🏾✨

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